BRUSSELS — The European Union and the United Kingdom announced on Wednesday the successful negotiation of an agreement intended to smooth cross-border commerce and transit in Gibraltar, concluding years of post-Brexit deliberations over the disputed territory at Spain’s southern tip.
EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šef?ovi? took to social media to express enthusiasm for the agreement, describing it as a “truly historic milestone” that delineates an EU-UK political framework regarding Gibraltar, which will enhance relations and provide mutual benefits.
Since Britain’s exit from the European Union in 2020, the status of Gibraltar’s connection with the EU had remained a contentious issue. Previous negotiations on managing the flow of people and goods between Gibraltar and Spain experienced only incremental progress.
While Gibraltar was ceded to Britain as far back as 1713, Spain has persistently claimed sovereignty over the territory. The relationship concerning Gibraltar, known as “the Rock,” has fluctuated over the centuries, comprising periods of tension and cooperation.
During the 2016 referendum on Brexit, an overwhelming 96% of Gibraltar voters chose to remain in the EU, underscoring the territory’s reliance on access to the EU for its 34,000 inhabitants.
The British government declared the new agreement as resolving the significant outstanding issue from Brexit negotiations. Simultaneously, Spanish Foreign Minister José Albares characterized the deal as historic, signaling “a new beginning” in UK-Spain relations.
Spain has committed to maintaining free movement for individuals and goods, while integrating Gibraltar into the Schengen Area — Europe’s free travel zone — where Spanish authorities will regulate entry and exit.
Pending ratification by both Spanish and UK parliaments, the agreement will eliminate physical barriers and control checkpoints for cross-border movement of people and goods, according to an EU statement.
In a bid to preserve the EU’s borderless single market, entry checks will occur at Gibraltar’s airport and port, overseen by both UK and Spanish border officers. This mechanism is akin to procedures at Eurostar terminals in London and Paris, where dual-national teams perform immigration checks.
Previously, Gibraltar and the UK resisted Spain’s insistence that Spanish border control have a presence at the airport shared with a Royal Air Force base.
Furthermore, a consensus was reached on provisions related to visas and travel permits. The UK revealed that half of Gibraltar’s population regularly crosses the border, warning that absent an agreement, new EU travel rules would necessitate individual passport checks for everyone.
The British government celebrated the deal as a triumph for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, marking efforts to reestablish positive relations with the EU five years post-Brexit.
The UK asserted that the agreement does not affect sovereignty and ensures the “full operational autonomy” of its military installations in Gibraltar. Nevertheless, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized Spain’s ongoing claim over Gibraltar.
“After three centuries without progress, the EU, the United Kingdom, and Spain have reached a thorough agreement that provides advantages to citizens and strengthens our bilateral ties with the UK, without compromising Spain’s claims,” Sánchez remarked.
Gibraltar Chief Minister Fabian Picardo appreciated the agreement, believing that it would provide legal certainty for Gibraltar’s citizens, enterprises, and those dependent on frontier stability.